U.S. voters in midterm elections spoke out 'resoundingly' about abortion, privacy

Nov 14 2006

The outcome of the U.S. midterm elections "spoke so unambiguously about abortion that even the most intransigent antiabortionists should be able to construe the message: Voters do not want Big Brother opening the doors of private homes -- or the doctor's office -- and coercing people's most personal medical decisions," a Los Angeles Times editorial says.

Voters in California and Oregon rejected attempts to require parental notification before a minor can obtain an abortion, and South Dakota voters rejected a law (HB 1215) that would have banned abortion except to save the life of the pregnant woman, according to the editorial.

In addition, many antiabortion congressional candidates were defeated in other states, and Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline (R) -- who subpoenaed the records of 90 women and girls who underwent late-term abortions at clinics in the state, saying there is probable cause that each record contains evidence of a felony -- lost his bid for re-election, the editorial says.

Despite this "abundantly clear message," antiabortion advocates are "redoubling their efforts" and calling for requiring pregnant women to receive three-dimensional ultrasounds, the editorial writes.

Voters nationwide "have spoken resoundingly on abortion and the right to privacy," and "[t]hose who want to turn government into Big Brother need to heed the message and give it up," the editorial concludes (Los Angeles Times, 11/11).